Shelf assembly



y 1953 w. R. JEWELL 2,645,359

SHELF ASSEMBLY filed March 26, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor: .William RJJe well His Attorney y 1953. w. R. JEWELL ,645,359

SHELF ASSEMBLY Filed March 26, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7, .F'! n K 5 n A w n FY. 21g Ti 27 25 Q i l J 4- r:

, Inventor:

WiHiamR. Jewell,

Patented July 14, 1953 siniLF ASSEMBLY William R. Jewell, Erie, Pa., .assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application March 26, 1949, Serial No. 83,601

. 4 Claims.

My invention relates to shelf assemblies and mor particularly to shelf assemblies including an auxiliary or sorting shelf associated with a main shelf.

In the use of appliances such as household refrigerators the user often finds it necessary to remove several articles from the refrigerator in order to obtain access to the desired article which may be located at the rear of a shelf of the refrigerator. This may involve several trips to place these first articles on a counter or table until a suilicient number have been removed to obtain the desired access. The provision of an auxiliary shelf associated in some manner with a main shelf of the refrigerator provides a convenient surface for temporarily supporting these unwanted articles. Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide an improved shelf arrangement including a sliding shelf adapted to be supported on a main shelf and to slide beyond the main shelf to act as a sorting shelf when desired.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved sorting shelf adapted to slide relative to a main shelf and including a stop for limiting the relative sliding movement of the auxiliary or sorting shelf.

It is a further object of my invention to provide arr-improved sorting shelf including'a stop for limiting the relative movement of the sorting shelf relative to the main shelf and to provide an arrangement for affording easy removal of said sorting s zelf from said main shelf by exerting an abnormal pulling force.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the followingdescription proceeds and thefeatures of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexedto and forming partof this specification.

By my invention a shelf assembly is provided for refrigerators and the like which includes a main shelf and an auxiliary or sorting shelf adapted to slide relative: to the main shelf. The auxiliary shelf is slidably positioned in parallel spaced slides secured to the main shelf and the auxiliary shelf includes side portions having stops for engaging the'slides to limit the movement of the auxiliary shelf. Finally, by my invention at least one of these side portions is'made resilient or flexible so that when it is desired to remove the auxiliary shelf completely from its assembly with the main shelf it is only necessary to apply an abnormal pull or sudden jerk to the auxiliary shelf.

2 and a spaced inner liner 3.

sorting. shelf in its forward position; Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of the shelf assembly; Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation view of a portion of the shelf assembly; Fig. 4 is a plan View of the shelf assembly; Fig. 5 is a side elevation View show ing the auxiliary sorting shelf in its rear position, and Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 showing the sorting shelf in its forward position.

Referring to Fig. 1' there is shown a portion of a refrigerator cabinet I including an outer shell The space between the shell and the liner is filled with a suitable heat-insulating material 4. A breaker strip 5 closes the space between the shell and the liner adjacent the access openings of the refrigerator.

A shelf assembly 6 is arranged within the refrigerator cabinet. This shelf assembly includes a main shelf 1 and an auxiliary or sorting shelf 8 adapted to slide relative to the main shelf. The .main shelf l is slidably supported on shelf supports secured to the sides of the liner 3, two of these shelf supports being indicated at 9. In order to limit the forward sliding movement of the main shelf 1 a stop It! may be provided on the main shelf. This stop, in the position shown in Fig. '1, is adapted to engage th rear one of the shelf supports 9.

Referrin to Figs. 2 through 6, the main shelf 7 inciudes'a frame II and a plurality of wires l2 secured to the frame to provide a supporting surface for articles stored on the shelf. A cross member l 3 extends transversely of the main shelf near the central portion thereof for strengthening the supporting surface. A guard rail I4 is provided at the rear of the main shelf to prevent iliary shelf 8 for sliding movement relative to the 1 main shelf a pair of slides l5 are secured to the undersides of the forward side portions of the sudden jerk to the auxiliary shelf.

main shelf in depending relation thereto. The forward end of each of the slides I5 is provided with an upwardly extending ear I6 which is secured to the frame I I of the main shelf by Welding or in any other suitable manner, as indicated at I I. The rear end of each of the slides I5 is provided with an upwardly extending ear I8, which is similarly secured to th cross member I3 of the main shelf, as indicated at I9. Each of theslides I5 is generally channel-shaped in cross section. The slides are arranged on the main shelf in parallel spaced relationship with the open faces of the channels facing inwardly toward each other for slidably receiving the auxiliary shelf therein. To facilitate entrance of the auxiliary shelf 8 into the ends of the channel openings of the slides each of the slides also includes a downwardly inclined lip 28 in the forward edge thereof, providing a wide mouth for receiving the auxiliary shelf.

The auxiliary shelf 8 includes a U-shaped.

frame 2I having a front portion 22 and two side portions 23. A cross member 24 extends between the two side portions 23 in parallel spaced relationship to the front portion 22 of the frame, the spacing corresponding substantially to the length of the slides I5. A plurality of wires 25 are secured to the front portion 22 of the frame and to the cross member 24 to provide a supporting surface for the auxiliary shelf. The cross member 24 is secured to the side portions 23 of the frame 2I in such a position that the side portions 23 extend rearwardly beyond the supporting surface of the auxiliary shelf an amount corresponding substantially to the length of the slides I5 for providing arms 26.

As can be seen from Fig. 5 and from the solid lines in Fig. 4, when the auxiliary or sorting shelf 8 is in its rearward or out-of-use position the arms 26 extend beyond slides I5 to the rear edge of the main shelf I. Thus the auxiliary shelf may be moved forwardly of the main shelf or extended to the position shown in Fig. 6 and by the dotted lines in Fig. 4, the side portions 23 of the frame of the auxiliary shelf and specifically the arms 26 of these side portions riding in the channels of the slides I5 to support the auxiliary shelf. In order to limit the forward movement of the auxiliary shelf to the position in which the supporting surface is fully extended the side portions 23 and specifically the ends of the arms 26 thereof each include a section 21 which is arranged to engage the rear end of the slides I5 to act as a stop for the auxiliary shelf 8. Each section 21 is bent outwardly'as indicated at 28 to engage the rear edge of the base 29 of its corresponding slide I5.

The arms 26 are formed of a resilient or flexible material so that they may be deflected slightly from the plane shown in the drawings. Each of the sections 21 of the arms includes a portion 28 which is inclined outwardly and rearwardly at an acute angle with respect to the remainder of its corresponding arm. When the auxiliary shelf is moved forwardly or extended to the position shown in Fig. 6 the inclined portions 28 engage the slides I5 to limit the forward movement. It may be desirable at times to remove the auxiliary shelf completely, for example, to provide additional space for storing taller articles on the bottom of the liner 3. In this event it is only necessary for the user to apply an abnormal pull or a Because of the resilience or flexibility of the arms 26 and because of the provision of the inclined portion 28 this sudden jerk causes the inclined portions of the arms 26 to ride up over the rear end of the slides I5 and into the channels, the arms being deflected inwardly to permit the stops 21 to ride past the rear end of the slides. Thus, the construction shown positions the auxiliary shelf properly for use as a sorting shelf and at the same time provides for complete withdrawal of the auxiliary shelf by the mere application of a greater pull to the shelf without requiring the user to move a stop manually into a disengaged position.

While I have shown both arms 26 as being resilient and have provided stops 2'! on both arms it will be apparent that my invention can be carried out by making only one of the arms 26 resilient and by providing a stop only on the one resilient arm.

In order to limit the rearward movement of the auxiliary shelf 8 so as to prevent the ends of the arms 26 from striking the liner stops 30 are secured to the frame 2| of the auxiliary shelf near the forward portion thereof. These stops 30 engage the lips 20 of the slides I5 to limit the rearward movement of the auxiliary shelf. Although two stops 30 have been shown, one for engaging each of the slides I5, it will be apparent that only one such stop may be employed if desired.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular construction shown and described, and I intend, by the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A shelf assembly comprising a main shelf, a pair of slides secured in parallel spaced relationship to the forward side portions of said main shelf, an auxiliary shelf slidably received by said slides, said auxiliary shelf including a U-shaped frame having a front portion and two side portions, a cross member secured between intermediate portions of said side portions in spaced relationship to said front portion, the spacing corresponding substantially to the length of said slides, a supporting surface between said front portion and said cross member, each of said side portions including an arm extending beyond said supporting surface an amount corresponding sub stantially to the length of said slides and slidably received by said slides, at least one of said arms being resilient, and a stop formed on the end of said resilient arm for engaging the rear end of a corresponding one of said slides, the resilience of said resilient arm being such that said resilient arm resists deflection and said stop fails to ride over said corresponding one of said slides when a normal pull is applied to said auxiliary shelf whereby said stop limits the forward sliding movement of said auxiliary shelf relative to said main shelf when said supporting surface is fully extended, said resilience of said resilient arm also being such that said resilient arm is deflected inwardly by said stop riding over said corresponding one of said slides only when a greater than normal pull is applied to said auxiliary shelf to afford disassembly of said auxiliary shelf from said main shelf.

2. A shelf assembly comprising a main shelf, a pair of 'slides secured in parallel spaced relationship to the forward side portions of said main shelf, an auxiliary shelf slidably received by said slides, said auxiliary shelf including a U-shaped frame having a front portion and two side portions, a cross member secured between intermediate portions of said side portions in spaced relationship to said front portion, the spacing corresponding substantially to the length of said slides, a supporting surface extending between said front portion and said cross member, each of said side portions including an arm extending rearwardly beyond said supporting surface an amount corresponding substantially to the length of said slides and slidably received by said slides, said arms being resilient, and a stop formed on the end of each of said resilient arms for engaging the rear end of a corresponding one of said slides, the resilience of said resilient arms being such that said resilient arms resist deflection and said stops fail to ride over said corresponding slides when a normal pull is applied to said auxiliary shelf whereby said stops limit the forward sliding movement of said auxiliary shelf relative to said main shelf when said supporting surface is fully extended, said resilience of said resilient arms also being such that said resilient arms are deflected inwardly by said stops riding over said slides only when a greater than normal pull is applied to said auxiliary shelf to aiforddisassembly of said auxiliary shelf from said main shelf.

3. A shelf assembly comprising a main shelf, a pair of slides secured in parallel spaced rela tionship to the forward side portions of said main shelf, an auxiliary shelf slidably received by said slides, said auxiliary shelf including a U-shaped frame having a front portion and two side portions, a cross member secured between intermediate portions of said side portions in spaced relationship to said front portion, the spacing corresponding substantially to the length of said slides, a supporting surface extending between said front portion and said cross member, each of said side portions including an arm extending rearwardly beyond said supporting surface an amount corresponding substantially to the length of said slides and slidably received by said slides, said arms being resilient, a stop formed on the end of each of said resilient arms for engaging the rear end of a corresponding one of said slides, the resilience of said resilient arms being such that said resilient arms resist deflection and said stops fail to ride over said slides when a normal pull is applied to .saidauxiliary shelf whereby said stops limit the forward sliding movement of said auxiliary shelf relative to said main shelf when said supporting surface is fully extended, said resilience of said resilient arms also being such that said resilient arms are deflected inwardly by said stops riding over said slides only when a greater than normal pull is applied to said auxiliary shelf to afford disassembly of said auxiliary shelf from said main shelf, a second stop secured to one of said side portions of said frame for engaging the forward end of one of said slides to limit the rearward movement of said auxiliary shelf.

4. A shelf assembly comprising a main shelf, a pair of slides secured in parallel spaced relationship to the forward side portions of said main shelf, said slides being channel-shaped in cross section, the open sides of said channel sections facing inwardly toward each other, and an auxiliary shelf slidably received by said slides, said auxiliary shelf including a U-shaped frame having a front portion and two side portions a cross member secured between intermediate portions of said side portions in spaced relationship to said front portion, the spacing corresponding substantially to the length of said slides, a supporting surface extending between said front portion and said cross member, each of said side portions including an arm extending rearwardly beyond said supporting surface an amount corresponding substantially to the length of said slides and slidably received by one of said slides, said arms being resilient, a stop formed on the end of each of said resilient arms for engaging a rear end of its respective one of said slides, the resilience of said resilient arms being such that said resilient arms resist deflection and said stops fail to ride into said slides when a normal pull is applied to said auxiliary shelf whereby said stops limit the for ward sliding movement of said auxiliary shelf when said supporting surface is fully extended, said resilience of said resilient arms also being such that said resilient arms are deflected inwardly by said stops riding into said slides only when a greater than normal pull is applied to said auxiliary shelf to afford disassembly of said auxiliary shelf from said main shelf, and another stop secured to each of said side portions of said frame adjacent said front portion for engaging the forward ends of respective ones of said slides to limit the rearward movement of said auxiliary shelf.

WILLIAM R. JEWELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 21,080 De Boer May 16, 1939 714,206 Lippincott Nov. 25, 1902 1,204,568 Harnesberger Nov. 14, 1916 1,800,052 Brumbaugh Apr. '7, 1931 1,974,830 Moecker Sept. 25, 1934 1,974,983 Cook Sept. 25, 1934 2,093,137 Reeves Sept. 14, 1937 2,095,811 Goulooze Oct. 12, 1937 2,321,859 Rosebrook et a1. June 15, 1943 2,365,089 Le Bourgeois Dec. 12, 1944 

